Invasive Vines

Alternate Names: English
ivy – Atlantic ivy; Kudzu –
Vine-that-ate-the-south or
Japanese arrowroot; Oriental
Bittersweet – Asian
bittersweet or Japanese
bittersweet; Porcelain berry
– Amur peppervine
Origin: English Ivy –
Europe, western Asian, and
northern Africa; Kudzu,
Oriental Bittersweet &
Porcelain berry - Asia
Habitat: Adapted to a wide
variety of habitats and soil
types including forest edges,
fields, disturbed areas, and
roadsides; tolerate full sun to
partial shade
Distribution: Eastern U.S.
Ecological Threat: Climbs
over and blankets desirable
native plants, eventually
shading them out and killing
them or causing them to fall
due to excess weight
Reproduction: By seed and
vegetatively
Dispersal: Seeds dispersed
by birds and people
Control: Herbicide and
removal
Native Alternatives:
Virginia creeper
(Parthenocissus
quinquefolia); Boston ivy
(Parthenocissus
tricuspidata)
Invasive Vines
English Ivy (Hedera helix L.);
Kudzu (Pueraria montana [Lour.] Merr.);
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.);
Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
[Maxim.] Trautv.)
General: English ivy was introduced by
colonists as an evergreen, low-maintenance
groundcover and is still widely available in
nurseries and retail outlets.
Kudzu was introduced in the 1870s as an ornamental plant and used
throughout the South in the 1930s and 1940s to reduce soil erosion. Kudzu is
listed as a federal noxious weed.
Oriental bittersweet was introduced in the 1860s as an ornamental plant and
is still widely used for landscaping and decoration as wreaths.
Porcelain berry was originally cultivated for bedding and as a landscape
plant. Despite it being well-known as an invasive plant, porcelain berry is
widely used and promoted in the horticultural trade.
Identification:
English Ivy
Kudzu
Oriental Bittersweet
Porcelain Berry
Reproduction: These vines reproduce by seed which is dispersed by birds
and small animals. The vines also reproduce vegetatively through root
fragments, cuttings, or suckers.
Control Methods: Do not plant these vines. A combination of manual or
mechanical removal and herbicide application yields the most effective
results. Take care not to spread seed when removing mature vines.
References: USDA Plants Database (https://plants.usda.gov); Maryland Invasive Species Council
(http://www.mdinvasivesp.org); Swearingen, J., B. Slattery, K. Reshetiloff, and S. Zwicker.2010. Plant Invaders of
Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, 4 th ed. National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, DC.
168pp